China's Silicon Valley to open internship opportunities for Malaysian youths

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian youths interested in science, technology and entrepreneurship may soon be able to do an internship at China's very own Sillicon Valley known as the Zhongguancun Science Park.

Through its Cirrus Project, the Zhongguancun Belt and Road Industrial Promotion Association (ZBRA) previously only allowed foreign students studying in Chinese universities to spend their internship at tech companies in the Zhongguancun Science Park, also known as Z Park.

Malaysia will be the first country to send its youths to Z Park in Beijing to learn from Chinese tech giants and successful start-ups such as Lenovo, Baidu and Alipay.

A new collaboration between ZBRA and economic think thank Anbound Research Center Malaysia will see Z Park tech companies recruiting Malaysian interns directly from Malaysia.

Z Park's global expansion is part of the Belt and Road Initiative as it eyes overseas markets, production base, research centres and joint-venture partners especially in Belt and Road countries.

ZBRA and Anbound signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) here Wednesday to bring the Cirrus Project to Malaysia.

The MoU was signed by Anbound Malaysia chief representative Dr Edward Foo Loke Min and ZBRA director Zhang Xiaodong.

It was witnessed by Deputy Education Minister Datuk Chong Sin Woon who lauded the collaboration as a golden opportunity for Malaysian youths to learn from the Chinese and develop cutting-edge businesses.

"I had the privilege to visit Z Park in 2015 and I was amazed by what Z Park has achieved with the platform. They've created a high tech park as an incubator for young Chinese youths to venture into high tech and new business plans," Chong said.

The MCA Youth Chief added that the collaboration showed that the Belt And Road Initiative is prioritising Malaysia as one of its most strategic partners.

According to Dr Foo, the details of the collaboration are still being discussed but Anbound Malaysia expects to send the first batch of Malaysian interns to Zhongguanchun by the end of 2018.

"More details will be released over the next year and we will be inviting Malaysian youths to apply and participate in the Cirrus Project," he said.

Also at the MoU signing were Director of Cultural Office from the Chinese Embassy to Malaysia Zhang Jie Xin, Senior Principle Assistant Director of the International Trade and Industry Ministry Unny Sankar and Anbound Beijing Head of Global Development Programme Wang Yi.